By Huy Vannak
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A SRP Member of Parliament requested the government to perform an in-depth review of the impact on the livelihood of people, as well as the water pollution stemming from the plan to build a hydroelectric power plant on the Mekong river, in Kratie Province.
Along with his request, Son Chhay said that the Cambodian authority should also review the background of this Chinese company which was involved with creating problems in the past, both in China and in Cambodia.
Son Chhay said: “It is a concern because there are experiences about the action taken by the Chinese on the Mekong River in southern China where critics raised the issue of impact on the environment and water pollution, as well as a number of other issues that are of concerns to Cambodia. Furthermore, we had past experience with the Chinese during the plan to build a hydroelectric power plant in Kirirom. The Chinese planned to have Cambodia finance the project, and Cambodia had to borrow the money, the Chinese would build the plant but used old and second grade equipments. They charged high prices, and the amount of electricity produced is small. Therefore, I and some experts believe that there should be a price bidding [for this plant], and there should be studies performed first by a number of experts before giving the project to any company.”
According to an official from the Ministry of Mining and Energy, as well as from the Kratie provincial authority, the Chinese company is currently performing a study for the feasibility of building a hydroelectric power plant at 2 locations on the Mekong river, in Sambo district, Kratie province. The plant is planned to have a capacity of 400 MW.
Kham Phoeun, the Kratie provincial governor, said that since the 1970s, there were 3 studies performed, and that there was even a company from Switzerland which was also involved in the plan to build a hydroelectric plant in Kratie.
Kham Phoeun said that the development will affect the environment, but the production of electricity in the country will help reduce the cost of electricity and will attract factory investors into Cambodia, thereby helping raise the living condition of the population.
Currently, in Cambodia, electricity is available in large cities only, and the price of electricity in Cambodia varies from one area to another: from 600 to 4,000 riels (~$0.15 to $1) per kWh.
Along with his request, Son Chhay said that the Cambodian authority should also review the background of this Chinese company which was involved with creating problems in the past, both in China and in Cambodia.
Son Chhay said: “It is a concern because there are experiences about the action taken by the Chinese on the Mekong River in southern China where critics raised the issue of impact on the environment and water pollution, as well as a number of other issues that are of concerns to Cambodia. Furthermore, we had past experience with the Chinese during the plan to build a hydroelectric power plant in Kirirom. The Chinese planned to have Cambodia finance the project, and Cambodia had to borrow the money, the Chinese would build the plant but used old and second grade equipments. They charged high prices, and the amount of electricity produced is small. Therefore, I and some experts believe that there should be a price bidding [for this plant], and there should be studies performed first by a number of experts before giving the project to any company.”
According to an official from the Ministry of Mining and Energy, as well as from the Kratie provincial authority, the Chinese company is currently performing a study for the feasibility of building a hydroelectric power plant at 2 locations on the Mekong river, in Sambo district, Kratie province. The plant is planned to have a capacity of 400 MW.
Kham Phoeun, the Kratie provincial governor, said that since the 1970s, there were 3 studies performed, and that there was even a company from Switzerland which was also involved in the plan to build a hydroelectric plant in Kratie.
Kham Phoeun said that the development will affect the environment, but the production of electricity in the country will help reduce the cost of electricity and will attract factory investors into Cambodia, thereby helping raise the living condition of the population.
Currently, in Cambodia, electricity is available in large cities only, and the price of electricity in Cambodia varies from one area to another: from 600 to 4,000 riels (~$0.15 to $1) per kWh.
11 comments:
Chinese charges high price? Shut
the fuck up, stupid (Son Chhay).
They are much cheaper than an
westerner contractor.
Westerner use Nuclear Power moron while the Chinese fuck Cambodia environment with a fuck up machine. Please tell the Chinese how much does it take to drive the system before it generate your fucking power to houses. Next time buy a fucking Nuclear Power and if it blow up let it happen so you fuck head can die too.
Cambodia government is easily giving concession to Chinese companies regardless of bad impacts to the local people because Chinese government has hugely aided Cambodian government without strings....
This is normal for communist habits..
Well, we got no money to work with
westerners because they are a
ripoff, idiot (5:28). Hydropower,
is the way to go for Cambodia. We
aint gonna let free and clean
natural power to flow away into
the ocean without giving us some
electricity first.
Bad impact to the local people,
5:43? How do you like the impact
without electricity, huh?
USA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND EROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES HAVE BETTER TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR SAFETY RECORD ARE ON THE TOP OF THE LISTS.
THIS TIME YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB FOR CAMBODIA Mr. SON CHHAY. I HOPE Mr. HUN SEN GOVERNMENT WILL LISTEN TO YOU FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL KHMERS.
IN THE 60's CHINA ALWAYS GAVE SECOND HAND OR USED FACTORIE'S EQUIPMENTS TO HIS MAJESTY NORODOM SIHANOUK TO BUILD FACTORIES IN KOMPONG CHAM OR IN BATTAMBANG PROVINCES etc...
IF WE TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES WE SHOULD LOOKING TO THE WEST IS MUCH MORE BETTER QUALITY THAN CHINA COMMUNIST.
GOOD QUALITY PRODUCTS WILL LAST YOU LONGER, MUCH MORE SAFER AND SAVE CAMBODIA A LOTS OF MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
Regards,
Mr. Woodhy Chamron &
Mrs. Rachel Elisabeth Chamron
Well, China has Space technology
experiences now, while AU, NZ, and
EU doesn't. So as usual, the idiot
(Son Chhay) doesn't know what the
fuck he's talking about.
The environmental impact does not affect those who support this? Lack of education? Now if the hydropower is built, who gets the electricity? Certainly not the poor living in a shack. By know most of you know that those who live in those areas lives in Shacks. Now that you got power, Is everything else going to be normal? Just take a look at the TonLe Sap River. What is the impact on that river from Hydropower? What about natural events that takes place on the river? But hey China has space station they should know, just like the Russians. The mentality to just build because we need it is like those with financial problems. Rather buy a car you cannot afford payments on, but because you think you need it, now you can barely afford the car payments, then the everyday gas. In this case you worry about that later as long you have the car. Just like the hydropower, because you need it you want to build it without concerns to everyday life and those who really benefit from it, and if the equipment is worth it. Sad Thinking...Very Sad
I am pro-opposition. Mr. Son Chhay can take a second look at the hydroelectric power plant in Kratie but at the same time, Please don't allow politic to interfere with the need of Cambodia for renewable source energy.
There are 8 hydroelectric power plants currently operated in Loa and many more in Vietname already and why not Cambodia? I don't see any point for Cambodia to buy the electricity from Vietname or Loa due to political instability and sensitive!!!Cambodia must seek an independent on all foreign energy supply if Cambodia has a way or any choice!
Cambodia needs huge amount of energy to jump start their light and heavy industries and of course to provide all Cambodian people with affordable electricity!
Cambodia needs affordable energy now!
Energy is very important for Cambodians, but we can build energy without conscience...I support Mr. Son Chhay in this initiative.
They could work out with the local people to survey the impact in short term and long term period...and the benefits and the loss from this hydropower electricity...
There is far more benefit to
hydropower than lost, short as well
as long term. In order to move
along with the rest of the world,
we need to expand our power grids,
so that people can take advantage
of computer and communication
technology, and improving their
lifestyle by being able to
preserve food in a refrigirators
and light in their house, not
to mention the economic stimulation
and demand for electrical products.
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